Twitter has become the first place people turn in times of crisis. As more and more people turn to the social media site for information, organisations will now have an easier time of disseminating it.

Today, Twitter launched its popular Twitter Alerts service in the UK. The programme allows organisations to use the #alert tag in order to flag a message as critical. The message is distributed through a few different means.

The programme, which launched in the U.S. and Japan in September, allows public and not-for-profit organisations to disseminate information in times of crisis. Quick to jump on board were nearly 50 different police forces, governmental agencies and other NGOs.

Glenn Sebright, head of communications at the London Fire Brigade, the first fire and rescue service to have signed on from the gate, says “People share and act on information posted on social media. During a major or catastrophic incident Twitter Alerts will help us, as part of our emergency service, give accurate and verified updates quickly.”

Sebright’s social media team already keeps Londoners appraised of fire, rescue and other relevant safety information on a daily basis. A service like Twitter Alerts will allow the LFB, and other essential public safety agencies, a more direct platform from which to disseminate crisis-related news.

To read more about the London Fire Brigade, and hear from the Greater Manchester Police and Transport for London, see our November issue, available in print and on iPad.